By Andi Anderson
Indiana farmers are experiencing a slow start to the 2025 planting season due to wet field conditions and limited days suitable for farm work. As of April 13, only 1.5 days were reported as suitable for fieldwork across the state.
Soil moisture remains high in many areas. Topsoil moisture was rated as 2 percent very short, 5 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 43 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture followed similar patterns with 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 53 percent adequate, and 33 percent surplus. The surplus moisture is making it difficult for farmers to prepare their fields and plant early crops.
Winter wheat jointing, a key growth stage, reached only 14 percent, which is below both last year’s 23 percent and the five-year average of 22 percent. This slower progress reflects the impact of wet and cool conditions across the state.
Despite the slow development, the condition of the winter wheat crop remains largely positive. The crop was rated as 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 54 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. These ratings suggest that although growth has been delayed, overall health remains steady for most fields.
Farmers and agricultural experts are hoping for drier weather in the coming weeks to allow for improved field access and planting progress. As the planting window opens, every day of favorable weather will be important to get crops like corn and soybeans in the ground on time.
With spring just beginning, Indiana’s farming community continues to monitor weather patterns closely, aiming to adapt and make the most of the season ahead.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-brzozowska
Categories: Indiana, Crops, Wheat